The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-02-17
A Promising Outlook.

purposes. and to procure heavy ordnance
adapted to modern naval warfare and for
/ gun factory, and other coast defences
md the introduction of bill by Senator
Cameron providing for the construction
Under contract of ten protected steel
cruisers, ard appropriating about $o0,0Oo,-
100 for the purposes named, mean great
ieal for the country. If these bills shall be-
come laws, they will assure that our coast
lefeuses will be sufficient for all defensive
purposes, and that it will not be in the
power of any fourth-rate nation to devas-
.ate our coast cities from Portland to
Charleston, as would be the case in their
present condition. 1t would further as
sure the employment of the idle labor of
The country in the work necessary for the
provided for; would'bring
into requisition all of cur skilled labor
stimulate iron and steel manufacture; give
value to the vast unutilized mineral re-
sources of the country; stop the senseless
and demagogical clamor about surplus rev.
enue: arrest the free trade crusade
against Our tariff laws build up market
for all the surplus products of the farm
remove all cause for strikes and give the
business of the country an impetus that
would be felt for the next ten years in ev
cry avenue of trade.
The true policy of this country is to have
its independence established in every re-
spect. 1t is as important that our coast
should be fortified against foreign attack,
as it is that our industrial system should
recognize the duty of protecting home la
Dor and establishing home market. No
legislation that could possibly be devised
would have such far reaching and univer-
sally inspiring effect, as that proposed in
the several bills passed by the Senate and
those reported from the Senate Naval
Committee, providing for coast detenses
and the manufacture of ordnance suitable
for frst-class naval power. 1t would
date new epoch in our industrial, mara
tine and martial history, and give an i'm
petus to the development Of our natural
resources such as would affect every inter-
est Of the people.
The Republican Senate has performed
an important duty in the action it has ia
ken to place the nation in proper rea-
tion before the world, and for the improve
nent of its material condition. The Dem
ocratic House has the responsibility rest
ing upon it of either sustaining or de-
feating these wise and essential measures.
1t is true, the result of the enactment of
the bills in question, into laws, would be
the death of the free-trade policy: would
settle good many ranting demagogues,
who know just enough to know nothing
about the needs of the nation would re-
move all excuse for mentioning surplus
revenue and surplus production, and would
settle for all time to come the obstructive
policy of the Democratic party. as well as
the party itself. 1t would build up the
industrial interests of the South as well
as the North, and connect the sections in
commercial sympathy and interests. and
cement the bond of unior upon more en-
during basis than was ever known before.
Virginia would especially share in the
industrial activity that would follow the
legislation proposed by the Senate. Her
vast mineral districts would INVITE capital
and enterprise-mlnera and manufacturer ;
the farmer would find market at his
door our timber be fashioned into useful
fabrics, and our fertile fields find remu-
nerative returns for all their products
Nothing but Democratic stupidity will de-
feat these ausplcious promises, and
should this be interposed, nothing but the
day of judgment would save the Demo.
cratic party from being swept from tie
face of the earth by an indignant people.
At time when the railroad comni.-
sions of Georgia and South Carolina al 9
adjudged failures, and operate more to the
disadvantage Of the farmers than to their
benefit, the Farmers Assembly of Virgins
ia, in their platform, demand one for this
State. 1t is stated that in Georgia the
practical effect of the administI alton of
the commission is to retard the growth
of sections Cypress the weak enter
prises hold back ready capital in
the richer sections, which is ready and
anxious to invest; and arrest the ez-
change of commodities. What Virginia
and the South want is capital and enter
prise, both in railroads and manufactures.
The first will not come when a political
commission is placed in control of them,
and can legislate to their disadvantage. -
Private capital does not care to go into
projects where it cannot 0e controlled by
it's owners. The sooner our people learn
that it is not wise economy to be all the time
fighting the railroads and seeking to en-
barrass their administration, the better
It is to the interest CT the railroads that
the farmer should prosper. for much of
their revenue comes from that source. Tt
is not every one who calls himself farm
er who knows what the farming interests
need, nor that's capable of framing pol
icy for their operation. There is about as
much crude nonsense shown in some of
these farmers assemblies as can be found
in any other public gathering. This is at
tested in the platform recently adopted by
the Virginia Assembly, reference to which
is made else where. Its endorsement of
the Inter-States Commerce law was an ev-
idence Of this. That legislation, where it
does not prove failure, will work disad-
vantage. and it will not be twelve months
before there is louder clamor for it's re-
peal than there was for it's adoption.
Our contemporary of the Huntington
Advertiser is very much disturbed over the
deplorable condition in which it finds its
party in the legislature of West Virginia,
and wishes all of the faithful to submit to
majority rule" he difficulty in the
case is that the majority very rarely rules
in the democratic party of Virginia andW.
Virginia. A very small minority does the
ruling. A few men form themselves into
a ring arrange their plans; assume to
be the party, and then proceed to demand
obedience from the masses. The coal oil
ring of WestVirginia is really composed of
very few persons, but it claims the whole
earth, and places it's iron hand upon all
who question its authority. Were the
majority to rule. - there would be no diff